Folding bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. H. KANMAOHER. v

FOLDING BBDSTEAD.

No.332,612. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.1

, v :3 I I w I K 1 1 Wu i I I! l N. PETERS. Phnmutha ra her, Wnnhingmn. 2.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. H. KANMAGHER.

. FOLDING BEDSTEAD. No. 332,612. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

MINI]!!- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..-

GEORGE H. KANMACHER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO B. DEIMEL 8b BROTHERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATIOII forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,612, dated December 15, 1885.

Application filed May 22, 1884.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I. GEORGE H. KANMAcrL ER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of bedsteads which are capable of being folded into a compact form and into the semblance of a wardrobe or other similar piece of furniture; and the invention consists in certain features hereinafter described,and specifically set forth in the claims.

Inthis instance I provide abedstead which when closed has the appearance of and also serves the function of a dressingcase or writing-desk, and at the same time is provided with novel means for folding and unfolding and transforming the structure from one position to another, whereby it is available for several practical purposes.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of one-half of the bedstead when closed, or in condition to serve as a dressing case and writing desk combined. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in a similar position. Fig. 3 is a central verti al section of the same with a part of the bedstead proper, lowered for such. Fig. lis aside elevation of the bedstead extended foruse as such. the head portion of the same benrg modified in construction from the forms illustrated in the preceding figures. Fig. 5 is a plan and partial section of a portion of Fig. 4. Fig.

6 is a vertical section of the foot-board or writing-desk, the writing'table elevated for use as such. Fig. 7'is a rear view of the means employed for raising and lowering the bed por' tion, and Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 00 w of Fig. 7,

Like letters indicate like parts in all the fig ures.

A represents the foot-board, in the base of which is arranged a draw, A in this instance extending the entire width of the foot-board between the end standards thereof.

A (see Fig. 1) represents a paneled door Serial No. 132,439. (No model.)

hinged to the outer face of the foot-board, and forming a cover for bookshelves in the compartment formed in the said footboard.

A represents the writing-table, which in this instance occupies about a middle third of 5 the width of the head-board, and is provided with a rack-bar and brace, A for sustaining the same in an elevated position for use as a writingtable. The compartment A, which the table covers as a door, is available for use as a storage-place for stationary and other articles. A similar compartment to that shown at A is provided at the opposite side of the writing table. Above the writing table is a series of drawers, A", arranged beneath the top rail,A,of the footboard, and they may be adapted to be withdrawn therefrom in either directionthat is, toward or from the writing-table A Suitable casters are provided for the foot-board to facilitate its movement along with the bed portion proper when opening and closing the same.

B represents one of the side rails of the bed portion proper, and is hinged to the footboard at B, the said hinge being arranged on a side rail at a point some distance from the end thereof, so that when folded up, as here inafter described, the end of the side rail will project below the hinge-point and within the headboard. Each ofthesiderailsBissecured 8c to the cross-bar C, at the head portion thereof, by means of a pivot or any suitable hinge, B", and the said crossrail O is provided with a guide, C, adapted to travel along the edge of an upright, D, extending from the bottom to 85 the top of the headboard, inclosing case E. At the rear end of the headboard case E are the transverse shafts'E E", the former carrying a pinion, E, and the latter a gear, 111*,- and sprocket E At the top of the case are pulleys E, around which and the sprocketwheels E pass the lifting straps or bands E to which are secured weight or weights E at such a pointthat when theside railsare horizontal said weights will be elevated, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to serve as a counterbalance when the side rails are elevated, as hereinafter described.

In Fig. 4 the case E is provided with a simple projecting cornice, E, from which any suitable curtain may be dropped to conceal occupies an elevated position above the footboard, which, with its drawers and compart ments, may serve as a dressing-case and writing-desk, as hereinbefore described, thus giving the entire article a finished and pleasant appearance when closed, not only excluding from View the bed proper, and having a fine exterior appearance, but also possessing practical functions in all the exposed parts. The front section comprises sides E", which are arranged vertically and arranged to slide within the head-case E, the said front sections being'supportcd in any suitable manner in the framework of the top of the head-board case. For instance, the said front section may be supported upon rollers F running upon suitable tracks, F, inclined, as shown, or not, as desired, or a slot, F, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, may serve to receive a projecting pin or rod, with or without afriction-roll provided upon the outer sides of the front sec tion, whereby it may be moved bodily from or within the head-board section. WVhen the tracks F" are employed and inclined, as shown, it will be seen that the front section will,when the side rails B and the bed proper are withdrawn from the head-board casing, run by gravity within the casing.

When it is desired to fold the bedstead, while elevating the side rails, the bottom frame of the bed,the mattress, and the bed clothing to aposition behind the front section, F, the attendant grasps with one hand the lower end of said front section and pulls or swings it outwardly while turning the crank and revolving the sprocket-wheel E F represents a tightener for the elevatingband E and consists of an ordinary boltpassing through one end of the hand, then through the opposite end of it, and into a screwthreaded plate, E so that by turning the bolt the two ends of the band are drawn toward each other, and all slackncss thereof is taken up. The strap or plate E is secured in any suitable manner to the cross-bar O, and there may be as many sprocketpulleys and bands as desired-that is, one or more elevating-bands may be employed with each bed. The crossbar G is provided with brackets G which support, pivotally, the headboard B", proper, whereby the same may be folded down within the side rails, 13, if desired. Now, it will be seen that by turning the crank-shaft E the head end of the bed proper may be elevated within the head-board casing E, the foot-board following upon its casters upon the floor, and the cross-bar being guided upon the uprights D, and that when the parts come together they assume the posi- .counterbalancing-Weights, and that the front has been closed with doors hinged to the sides,

and that a writing-desk provided with a I hinged front has been attached to the footboard of a bed having its side rails of two lengths hinged together, and I do not claim the above-stated construction.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is 1. In afolding bedstead, the combination of a foot-board, side rails pivoted thereto, a head-board provided with a cross-bar pivotally secured to the side rails, a front section movable upon the head-board casing, and

means for elevating the cross-bar within the casing, substantially as specified.

2. In a folding bedstead, a footboard provided with a writing-table, and hinged brace A for supporting the same at any desired angle in an open position, in combination with a compartment extending below the hinge of said table and of which the said table forms a door, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a foot-board provided with a drawer in the bottom portion thereof, a series of drawers at the top thereof, and a series of compartments between said upper and lower drawers, with the door ofsaid compartments sustained by an adjustable brace and adapted to serve as a writing-table, substantially as specified.

4. In a folding bedstead, the combination of the head-board case E, having tracks secured to its sides, and the front section adapted to slide upon said tracks and within said head board case, with side rails pivoted to a crossbar and connected to a counter-balancing elevating strap or straps, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the band or bands E sprocket E pinion E", crank-shaft E, with the cross-bar 0, having guides O, uprights D, side rails, B, and foot-board A, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, of the head case E, side rails hingedto the foot-board, and the cross bar of the head board hinged to the side rails, with a crank, gears, and vertical bands for elevating the side rails by their forward extremity, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. KANMAGHER.

Witnesses:

H. MUELLER, N. W. DIcK. 

